LeConte.J 



TACHYGONII^I. 265 



one-fourth the length, densely clothed with white scales; legs slender, 

 sparsely clothed with scales; thighs feebly toothed, the hind pair more 

 distinctly; antennte black, rather stout, first joint only of funicle elongated. 

 Length 3.8 mm. ; .15 inch. 



New York; several specimens in Mr. Ulke's collection, of whicli he has 

 kindly given me one. 



Tribe XVII. tachygoniki. 



This tribe contains a few small species, which in form and characters are 

 among the strangest insects of the family. The body is broadly ovate, rather 

 depressed above, and ornamented with tufts of hair; the prothorax is com- 

 paratively small, much narrowed in front. The head is small, the eyes 

 large, and the front very narrow, as in Zygopini; the beak is rather short 

 and stout, as in certain Ceutorhynchini, and retracted upon the prosternum, 

 but the antennae are straight, inserted near the base of the beak, not genicu- 

 late, and the first joint (scape), is no longer than the second; this is followed 

 by five short joints, gradually increasing in width; the club is elongate-oval, 

 distinctly annulated. The front coxae are sub-conical, prominent and widely 

 separated, so as to leave a space in which the beak rests wlien retracted. 

 The middle coxae are about three times more separated than the front coxa.', 

 and the mesosternum is very short, transverse, and perpendicular to the 

 general surface of the metasternum, which is still wider. The side pieces 

 of the mesosternum are large and distinct, those of the metasternum are 

 narrow. The hind coxae are oval, more widely separated than in any 

 <jther tribe known to me, and near the side margin of the elytra. The first 

 and second ventral segments are very large and connate; the third and 

 fourth very short ; the fifth is nearly as long as the second, rounded behind. 

 The pygidium is exposed, and suddenly declivous at tip, presenting the ap- 

 pearance of an anal segment hi both sexes. The front and middle legs are 

 slender and moderate in length, the tibiae armed with a terminal hook; 

 tlie third joint of the tarsi is very widely dilated, the fourth joint as long as 

 the first, with divaricate and appendiculate ungues. The hind legs are 

 much longer and stouter, so as to clasjD the leaves upon which the insect 

 rests. 



The geographical distriliution is remarkable; a few species of Tachygonus 

 in America; one species of Dinorliopala in Birmah. Tliis fact, and the 

 extraordinary characters aljove detailed, indicate the preservation of an an- 

 cient form, which, although having tlie afllnities I have mentioned, is 

 equally out of place in any position in a linear arrangement. 



TAOHYGONUS Sch. 



The characters of this genus are sufficiently exposed in the description 

 of the tribe. Our species are four, which may be thus distinguished: 



A. Hind thighs armed with several long, acute spinules or teeth; hind tib- 

 iae flattened and curved, feebly toothed on outer margin. 



PROC. AMEB. PHILOS. SOC. XV. 1)6. 2h 



